Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: OTA (Online Travel Agency) • Overbooking • MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events)

BAR (Best Available Rate)

Term from Hospitality industry explained for recruiters

Best Available Rate (BAR) is a pricing strategy used in hotels and hospitality businesses to set room rates. It represents the best publicly available rate for a room on any given day, without special discounts or promotions. Hotel managers and revenue teams adjust these rates daily or weekly based on factors like seasonality, local events, and occupancy levels. This helps hotels maximize their income while staying competitive. Think of it like airline ticket pricing - the rates change based on demand and timing. When you see "BAR pricing" or "BAR rates" on a resume, it means the person has experience with this type of flexible pricing strategy.

Examples in Resumes

Implemented BAR pricing strategy resulting in 15% revenue increase

Managed daily BAR and promotional rates across 200 rooms

Trained front desk staff on BAR and Best Available Rate policies

Optimized BAR pricing during peak seasons and special events

Typical job title: "Revenue Managers"

Also try searching for:

Hotel Revenue Manager Pricing Manager Revenue Optimization Manager Hotel Sales Manager Revenue Strategy Manager Front Office Manager Rooms Division Manager

Where to Find Revenue Managers

Professional Associations

Online Communities

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop a BAR strategy for a new hotel property?

Expected Answer: A strong answer should cover analyzing competitors, local market conditions, seasonal patterns, and creating different rate tiers. They should mention using data from similar properties and planning rate adjustments for different seasons and events.

Q: How do you balance BAR pricing with group bookings and corporate contracts?

Expected Answer: Should discuss managing different rate types simultaneously, maintaining rate parity, and strategies for maximizing revenue across different booking channels while keeping good relationships with corporate clients.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when adjusting BAR rates?

Expected Answer: Should mention occupancy levels, competitor pricing, local events, seasonal trends, and historical data. Should also discuss how these factors interact to influence pricing decisions.

Q: How do you explain BAR pricing to hotel guests who question rate changes?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate ability to explain pricing changes professionally, compare to airline/travel industry practices, and maintain good customer relations while defending revenue strategy.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is BAR pricing and why is it important?

Expected Answer: Should explain that BAR is the best available public rate that changes based on demand and market conditions, helping hotels maximize revenue while staying competitive.

Q: How do you find out competitors' BAR rates?

Expected Answer: Should mention checking competitor websites, online travel agencies, rate shopping tools, and maintaining a competitive set analysis.